Extensions to the International Phonetic Alphabet

ExtIPA_chart_(2015).pdf

Extensions to the International Phonetic Alphabet

The Extensions to the International Phonetic Alphabet (extIPA) are a set of additional symbols and diacritics designed to augment the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for the transcription of disordered speech. These extensions were created to provide a more comprehensive system for the detailed phonetic transcription of atypical speech sounds that are not adequately represented by the standard IPA.

History

The extIPA was first proposed in the late 1980s and early 1990s by the International Clinical Phonetics and Linguistics Association (ICPLA). The need for these extensions arose from the clinical field, where speech-language pathologists and researchers required a more precise tool for documenting speech disorders.

Symbols and Diacritics

The extIPA includes a variety of symbols and diacritics that extend the capabilities of the standard IPA. These include:

• Additional consonant and vowel symbols
• Diacritics for indicating atypical phonation, articulation, and airstream mechanisms
• Symbols for disordered speech phenomena such as lisping, nasal emission, and lateralization

Consonants

The extIPA provides additional consonant symbols to represent sounds that are not covered by the standard IPA. These include symbols for various types of click consonants, implosives, and other non-pulmonic consonants.

Vowels

Additional vowel symbols in the extIPA allow for the transcription of vowels with unusual articulatory features. These symbols help in documenting speech patterns that deviate from typical vowel production.

Diacritics

The extIPA includes a range of diacritics to indicate specific phonetic details. These diacritics can be used to modify both consonant and vowel symbols to provide a more accurate representation of disordered speech sounds.

Usage

The extIPA is primarily used in the field of speech-language pathology and clinical linguistics. It is an essential tool for professionals who work with individuals with speech disorders, as it allows for precise documentation and analysis of atypical speech patterns. The extIPA is also used in phonetic research to study the characteristics of disordered speech.

Comparison with the Standard IPA

While the standard IPA is sufficient for transcribing typical speech sounds, the extIPA provides the necessary tools for capturing the nuances of disordered speech. The additional symbols and diacritics in the extIPA complement the standard IPA, making it a more versatile system for phonetic transcription.

See Also

• International Phonetic Alphabet
• Speech-language pathology
• Clinical linguistics
• Phonetics
• Phonology